SUP. I. 8. 4. THEORY OF FEVER. 463 



the sensorial power of irritation, which is excited by the stimu- 

 lus of the blood. 



But during this torpor of the stomach, and less action of the 

 heart and arteries, so great an accumulation of the sensorial pow- 

 ers of irritation and of association occurs, that it adds to the ac- 

 tion of the next link of this vital circle of actions, that is, to that 

 of the cutaneous capillaries. Whence in this situation the tor- 

 por of the stomach occasions a diminished action of the heart and 

 arteries by direct sympathy, and may be said to occasion an in- 

 creased one of the cutaneous capillaries by reverse sympathy; 

 which constitute continued fever with weak pulse. 



Nor is this increased action of the capillaries in consequence 

 of the decreased action of the heart and arteries, as in fevers 

 with weak pulse, a single fact in the animal economy; though 

 it exists in this case in the greatest degree of duration, because 

 the heart and arteries are perpetually in greater action than any 

 other part of the system. But a similar circumstance occurs, 

 when the stomach is rendered inactive by defective excitement 

 of the sensorial power of association, as in sea-sickness, or in 

 nephritis. In these cases the sensorial power of association be- 

 comes much accumulated in the stomach, and seems by its su- 

 perabundance to excite the absorbent system, which is so nearly 

 connected with it, into great increase of action; as is known by 

 the great quantity frequently in these situations ejected by vomit, 

 which could not otherwise be supplied. It is probable the in- 

 crease of digestion by walking in frosty air, with many other ani- 

 mal facts, may by future observations be found to be dependent 

 on this principle, as well as the increased action of the capilla- 

 ries in continued fevers with weak pulse. 



Whereas in continued fever with strong pulse, which may 

 perhaps occur sometimes on the first day even of the plague, the 

 stomach with the heart and arteries and the capillaries act by 

 direct sympathy; that is, the stomach is excited into stronger 

 action by increased irritation owing to the stimulus of conta- 

 gious matter; these stronger irritative motions of the stomach 

 excite a greater quantity of the sensorial power of association, 

 which then actuates the heart and arteries with greater energy, 

 as these are catenated with the stomach; and in the same man- 

 ner the increased actions of the heart and arteries excite a greater 

 quantity of the sensorial power of association, which actuates 

 the cutaneous capillaries with increase of energy. See Class 

 IV. 1. 1. 



4. I shall dwell a little longer on this intricate subject. The 

 commencement of fever-fits is known by the inactivity of the cu- 

 taneous capillaries, which inactivity is observable by the paleness 



